How You Can Win Full Compensation For Your Benzocaine Injury
People who suffered severe illness or injury, or the families of people who have died, after using products containing benzocaine may be eligible for substantial financial compensation from the product’s manufacturer. Numerous people have instituted claims against these companies for damages alleging that oral painkilling products killed young children or caused severe health problems due to a condition is known as methemoglobinemia (a condition caused by elevated levels of methemoglobin in the blood). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned manufacturers of products that contain benzocaine (a fast-acting painkiller commonly used to treat gum soreness) that they must immediately stop marketing these products for use in children two years-of-age or younger for teething.
Parker Waichman LLP is a national law firm who represents numerous clients who suffered at the hands of healthcare product manufacturers who consistently endanger the lives and safety of their customers when they unleash dangerous products without warnings to the public. Parker Waichman LLP’s benzocaine lawsuit attorneys feel that medical product manufacturers must be held accountable for their egregious conduct. Our clients have experienced peace knowing that they achieved justice after aggressively pursuing legal claims and lawsuits seeking compensation for injuries, illnesses, and deaths caused by careless and irresponsible drug manufacturers.
The FDA Issued An Urgent Warning Regarding The Use of Benzocaine
On May 21, 2018, the FDA issued an urgent warning to companies who produce products that include benzocaine that it can cause methemoglobinemia. May’s announcement is not the first time the FDA warned drug makers of the possible link between benzocaine and methemoglobinemia. In 2011, the FDA expressed concern that benzocaine may cause methemoglobinemia, but the FDA opined that such an adverse reaction was rare.
The FDA concluded that a stronger link exists. According to the FDA, 319 people acquired methemoglobinemia, including numerous children, after using products such as Orajel, Baby Orajel, Anbesol, Cepacol, and Chloraseptic since 2004. All of these anesthetics are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that contain benzocaine and come in gel, spray, and as a liquid. These drugs are popular treatments for oral pain caused by toothaches, canker sores, and gum discomfort. Some products are designed to treat children who are teething.
The FDA launched a broader investigation to determine the adverse effects of OTC drugs containing benzocaine. The results are startling. From 2009 to 2017, the FDA learned that 119 cases of methemoglobinemia connected to OTC benzocaine use occurred. Out of those 119 cases:
- almost all patients required immediate medical intervention;
- 22 of the stricken patients were 18 years old or younger;
- 11 out of the 22 were two years old or younger; and
- Four people died, including an infant who was four months old.
Doctors have found that administering benzocaine to children places them at a considerable risk to fall victim to methemoglobinemia. Many doctors feel that the risk far exceeds the benefits a child might experience. Pediatricians have uniformly warned parents not to give their children any medicine that included benzocaine since the FDA approved the drug for use in OTC medications in the early 1990s.
Medical professionals are quick to point out that benzocaine is not a harmful substance for the majority of the adult population. Most dentists will use a dollop of a gel infused with benzocaine to numb an injection site before giving the patient a shot of novocaine. However, the FDA now demands that children, especially those two years old and younger, must not receive benzocaine. Instead, teething children may experience pain relief with a gentle massage of the gums or a firm teething ring. Cold or frozen teething rings should be avoided because they can lead to other injuries.
What is Methemoglobinemia?
Methemoglobinemia is a grave medical condition that affects the victim’s red blood cells. Doctors may diagnose the medical condition methemoglobinemia when methemoglobins in the body’s red blood cells exceed 1% of the cell. Methemoglobinemia happens when the iron in the red blood cells is in the ferric form rather than the ferrous form. As a consequence, the red blood cells cannot deliver enough oxygen through the body.
The symptoms of methemoglobinemia strike quickly. They can appear in as little as a few minutes up to two hours after ingesting a product containing benzocaine. The signs of methemoglobinemia are frightening.
- Skin color changes to blue or bluish gray when the methemoglobin saturation reaches 15%. Skin color change happens in the fingers, including fingertips and nail beds, as well as in the lips.
- Hypoxia or a condition caused by a lack of oxygen flowing to the brain occurs when methemoglobin saturation exceeds 15%. Symptoms of hypoxia include dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, and a racing pulse.
- Death occurs when methemoglobin saturation hits 70%. Other severe medical emergencies may happen such as seizures and coma before the victim succumbs to methemoglobinemia. These problems can cause permanent brain damage if the patient survives.
You Have A Right To File A Lawsuit Claiming Compensation For Damages
If you or a family member suffered from methemoglobinemia after taking a product containing benzocaine, you might have a right to pursue a lawsuit for damages. Anyone who experienced an adverse effect from benzocaine can bring a suit against the manufacturer and possibly any company in the chain of distribution, depending on the product liability law of your state.
The compensation you might receive from your claim depends on the circumstances. You must remember that each case is as unique as the people involved. However, you could seek compensation for damages including:
- Medical expenses, both past, and future,
- Economic losses for your pay and possible future earnings,
- Pain and suffering.
How to File A
Benzocaine Lawsuit
Call Parker Waichman LLP today to start the process of filing a lawsuit for damages suffered from taking a product that contained benzocaine. Our benzocaine lawyers will help you evaluate your case and determine the extent of your damages. Additionally, our benzocaine lawyers will ascertain the parties who contributed to your injuries. We will work hand-in-hand with you as we work to maximize your financial recovery.
Product liability lawsuits are very complicated. Lawyers who have extensive experience represents successful litigants in product liability cases. Representing oneself against major medical manufacturers is fraught with danger. You only have one chance to win your case. That is why you must trust your benzocaine claim to Parker Waichman LLP. Your benzocaine lawyer from Parker Waichman LLP will guide you through the process and rely upon his or her extensive experience in aggressively fighting for damages and protecting their clients’ rights.
You will not save money by representing yourself. Parker Waichman LLP does not charge their clients any fees unless they are successful winning compensation for you. Instead, we handle cases on a contingency fee basis so that you never have to spend any money out of your pocket. Our firm have recovered over $2 billion in damages for our clients. You can count on us to get the most out of your benzocaine lawsuit.
The Time to File is Now
Every legal claim has a time limitation, and benzocaine claims are no different. Missing the deadline to file a complaint means that the law of your state will bar you from ever seeking damages for your injuries. Call Parker Waichman LLP today to make sure that you do not forfeit your chance to obtain justice for you and your family.
Consultations with Parker Waichman LLP’s benzocaine lawyers are always complimentary. Call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) to schedule your consultation today.
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